Career and Education Opportunities for Paramedics in Joliet, Illinois

Paramedic career and educational opportunities abound in Joliet, Illinois. The national trend for paramedics sees this job pool growing by about 10.3% over the next eight years. Paramedics generally drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.

Paramedics earn about $10 per hour or $21,310 yearly on average in Illinois and about $10 per hour or $22,410 annually on average nationally. Paramedics earn less than people working in the category of Public Service generally in Illinois and less than people in the Public Service category nationally.

There are nine schools within twenty-five miles of Joliet where you can study to be a paramedic, among 132 schools of higher education total in the Joliet area. Given that the most common education level for paramedics is a high school diploma or GED, it will take only a short time to learn to be a paramedic if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Paramedic

Paramedic video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, paramedics drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. They also assist in lifting patients.

Paramedics drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick or convalescent persons. They also remove and replace soiled linens and apparatus to maintain sanitary conditions. Equally important, paramedics have to place patients on stretchers and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants. They are often called upon to earn and maintain appropriate certifications. They are expected to remove supplies and disposable items on ambulances. Finally, paramedics accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.

Every day, paramedics are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they evaluate problems as they arise.

It is important for paramedics to administer first aid, such as bandaging and administering oxygen. They are often called upon to report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials. They also restrain or shackle violent patients. Somewhat less frequently, paramedics are also expected to restrain or shackle violent patients.

And finally, they sometimes have to drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick or convalescent persons.

Like many other jobs, paramedics must be reliable and have a strong concern for others.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Paramedic Training

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College - Chicago, IL

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College, 7500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652-1299. City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College is a medium sized college located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 9,711 students. City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College has a one to two year program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated one student in 2008.

City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College - Chicago, IL

City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College, 1900 W Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60612-3197. City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College is a medium sized college located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,202 students. City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College has an associate's degree program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated one student in 2008.

College of DuPage - Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599. College of DuPage is a large college located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 25,668 students. College of DuPage has less than one year, one to two year, and associate's degree programs in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated 212, eighty-two, and seven students respectively in 2008.

Prairie State College - Chicago Heights, IL

Prairie State College, 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411-8226. Prairie State College is a medium sized college located in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 5,368 students. Prairie State College has a less than one year program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated seventy-one students in 2008.

Kankakee Community College - Kankakee, IL

Kankakee Community College, 100 College Drive, Kankakee, IL 60901. Kankakee Community College is a small college located in Kankakee, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 3,764 students. Kankakee Community College has an associate's degree program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated three students in 2008.

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College - Chicago, IL

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60628-1696. City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College is a small college located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 4,063 students. City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College has a less than one year program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated thirty students in 2008.

Moraine Valley Community College - Palos Hills, IL

Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills, IL 60465-0937. Moraine Valley Community College is a large college located in Palos Hills, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 17,477 students. Moraine Valley Community College has a one to two year program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated one student in 2008.

South Suburban College - South Holland, IL

South Suburban College, 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473-1200. South Suburban College is a medium sized college located in South Holland, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,105 students. South Suburban College has a less than one year and a one to two year program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated eighty-two and three students respectively in 2008.

Joliet Junior College - Joliet, IL

Joliet Junior College, 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431-8938. Joliet Junior College is a large college located in Joliet, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 14,088 students. Joliet Junior College has an associate's degree program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated one student in 2008.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Joliet, Illinois

Joliet, Illinois photo by Joliet82

Joliet is situated in Will County, Illinois. It has a population of over 146,125, which has grown by 37.6% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Joliet, 100, is near the national average. New single-family homes in Joliet are priced at $172,400 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, two hundred forty-four new homes were constructed in Joliet, down from seven hundred sixty-nine the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Joliet are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, public administration, and administrative and support and waste management services. The average commute to work is about 29 minutes. More than 18.6% of Joliet residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 5.7%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Joliet is 12.4%, which is greater than Illinois's average of 10.5%.

The percentage of Joliet residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 53.9%, is more than the national average but less than the state average. All Nation Church of God in Christ, All Saints Greek Orthodox Church and Holy Cross Catholic Church are all churches located in Joliet. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Methodist Church.

Joliet is home to the Will County Courthouse and the Timber Ridge Business Park as well as Joliet East Side Historic District and Rock Run County Forest Preserve. Shopping centers in the area include Joliet Mall Shopping Center, Caton Crossing Town Square Shopping Center and Twin Oaks Place Shopping Center. Visitors to Joliet can choose from Great Escapes Travel, Hampton Inn Joliet/I-80- IL and Bel-Air Motel for temporary stays in the area.